Charging handle assembly



Dec. 28, 1965 c. F. P ACKARD 3,225,653

GHARGING HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed May 5, 1964 E55- Eil;

INVENTOR MM.; ww 52 Wm.

ATTONEY United States 3,225,653 CHARGDIG HANDLE ASSEMBLY Charles F. Packard, East Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed May 5, 1964, Ser. No. 365,218 6 Claims. (Cl. 89-1) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to firearms having a longitudinally reciprocating bolt and is more particularly directed to an improved charging handle for effecting manual retraction of the bolt.

In firearms wherein the tiring reciprocation of a longitudinally slidable bolt is employed to replace each tired cartridge case with a live cartridge, it is essential that some means be provided to permit the initial loading of a live cartridge in the ring chamber or the withdrawal therefrom prior to tiring whenever the necessity for such action should arise. Accordingly, bolt-operated firearms of this type are generally provided with a slidable charging handle engageable With the front end of the bolt to impart corresponding movement thereto when -pulled to the rear.

Since optimum accuracy of fire requires that the charging handle remain stationary while the bolt is being reciprocated during automatic operation thereof, the retracting portion of the handle is preferably designed to engage the bolt without any positive connection therebetween. While such arrangement is entirely adequate insofar as the retraction of the bolt is concerned, it does not permit any positive control over the bolt in the event of any failure thereof to return to battery position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a charging handle for a rearm with a reciprocating bolt wherein the handle will be capable of imparting corresponding movement to the bolt in either direction of travel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a charging handle as aforesaid which will be positively connected to the bolt except in the full battery position thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a charging handle as aforesaid which, in the event of a failure to disconnect Ifrom the bolt as the latter reaches battery position, will not be driven to the rear upon the resumption of tiring.

A subsidiary object of this invention is the provision of means for automatically latching the charging handle in the inoperative position thereof when the bolt reaches full battery position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only and wherein:

FIG. l is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of a iirearm to which the present invention is particularly applicable and is partially cut away to show the relationship between the charging handle and the bolt when the latter is in battery position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. l to show the manner in which the charging handle is mounted in the iirearm;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the firearm .showing the manner in which the charging handle is connected to the bolt as the latter is being retracted;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the position of the parts during the return of the bolt to battery position;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the rear end of the charging handle; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the charging handle and the latch means at the rear end thereof.

It has been found that the foregoing objects can be achieved by incorporating a flexible tongue in the body of a longitudinally slidable charging handle, the free end of such tongue being turned upwardly to extend into a correspondingly indented portion of the receiver wall when the handle is in the lfully forward position thereof. Thus, when the charging handle is pulled rearwardly to retract the bolt, the upturned end of the flexible tongue will be cammed downwardly by the sloped end wall of the indented portion of the receiver to engage a stud projecting upwardly from an actuator fixedly secured to the top of the bolt. This engagement between the charging handle and the bolt continues during the return thereof to battery position so that any premature halt in the forward travel of the latter can be readily overcome simply by pushing forwardly on the charging handle. As the bolt moves into battery position, the tongue rides up the slopedrear end wall of the indented receiver portion to disengage from the actuator and thereby free the bolt for subsequent reciprocation independently of the charging handle.

As shown in the drawings, the present invention is particularly applicable to an automatic firearm of the type wherein a bolt 12 is longitudinally reciprocated in a receiver 14 in axial alignment with a barrel 16 and must be retracted in order to ram a live cartridge into the tiring chamber of barrel 16 prior to the initiation of automatic ire. Such retraction is normally accomplished by a charging handle 18 slidably disposed in receiver 14 to engage a vertical shoulder 20 in the front end of bolt 12.

In one particular firearm in which a carrying handle 22 is integrally formed at the top of receiver 14, it has been found that the junction therebetween is the most convenient location for charging handle 18. Accordingly, this area is provided with a longitudinal passage 24 open at the rear and extending forwardly to the extent necessary to slidably receive the entire length of the elongated body 26 of charging handle 18. The interior of passage 24 is provided with a pair of oppositely lfacing narrow grooves 28 adapted to slidably receive correspondingly shaped lugs 30 extending outwardly from the sides of charging handle body 26 as best shown in FIG. 2.

The forward end of charging handle body 26 is formed with a depending hook portion 32 adapted to engage vertical shoulder 20 in the front end of bolt 12. A hole 36 extends through hook portion 32 to provide slidable passage for the cylindrical forward end 38 of an actuator 40 fixed to the top surface of bolt 12 rearwardly of shoulder 20 thereon and arranged to receive the discharge end of a gas tube 39 for imparting recoil movement thereto.

The rear end of charging handle 18 is laterally enlarged and slotted on each side thereof, as best shown at 42 in FIG. 6, to pivotally receive a pair of latches 44 arranged for releasable engagement with corresponding shoulders 46 vertically formed into the sides of receiver 14 at the junction with carrying handle 22. A spring 4S is seated between latches 44 to normally bias the front ends thereof into engagement with shoulders 46 to lock charging handle 18 against rearward movement while bolt 12 is being reciprocated during automatic lire. However, when latches 44 are squeezed together to compress spring 48, charging handle 18 is freed for rearward retraction which can readily be accomplished simply by pulling on latches eo 44 which are suitably ribbed along a portion of the exterior surface thereof, as best shown at 52 in FIG. 2, to provide a positive gripping surface. An upwardly projecting tab 56 at the extreme end of handle 18 provides a pushing surface therefor as will be subsequently described.

The elongated body 26 of charging handle 18 is preferably formed as a substantially rectangular frame of U- shaped cross-section and is slit along the top surface thereof to a point directly above lugs 30 to form a substantially rectangular flexible tongue 54. A vertical hole 56 is provided in the rear end of tongue 54 and the portion to the rear of hole 56 is turned upwardly as best shown at 58. When charging handle 18 is latched in the inoperative position thereof and bolt 12 is in battery, hole 56 is positioned in vertical alignment with a plunger 68 slidably retained in an elevated portion 62 adjacent the rear end of actuator 40. Plunger 60 is biased upwardly by a spring 64 to normally project from the top of elevated portion 62 to a slightly higher level than the upper periphery of the cylindrical portion 38 at the front end of actuator 40. This projecting end of plunger 60 is annularly undercut as shown at '70 for a purpose to be hereinafter shown.

In the fully forward position of charging handle 18, the upturned rear end 58 of tongue 54 extends into an upwardly indented section 66 forme-d into the receiver wall extending along the bottom of carrying handle 22. Indented section 66 is symmetrically provided with sloped end walls 68 such that the rear one thereof will serve as a cam surface in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Thus, whenever it is necessary to retract bolt 12 for any reason, latches tf-tcan be readily pivoted out of locking engagement with receiver 14 by simultaneously pressing on both ribbed surfaces 52. Charging handle 18 is then free to be pulled to the rear in order to impart corresponding movement to bolt 12 through the engagement between hook portion 32 and vertical shoulder 20. During the initial travel of charging handle 18, the upturned rear end 58 of tongue 54 contacts the sloped cam surface 68 at the rear of indented section 66 and is forced downwardly thereby over the projecting end of plunger 6@ in actuator t? as best shown in FIG. 3.

Vlhen charging handle 18 is released, the return of bolt 12 to battery position will carry handle 18 therewith to the inoperative forward position thereof. In view of the flexible nature of tongue 54, the upturned rear end 58 thereof will follow the contour of indented section 66 in the wall of passage 24 and rise out of engagement with the projecting end of plunger 68 in actuator 40. As charging handle 18 moves into its forward inoperative position, latches 44 thereon pivot into locking engagement with shoulders 46 in receiver 14 to prevent accidental movement of charging handle 18 during subsequent automatic reciprocation of bolt 12.

However, in the event tongue 54 should fail to disengage from plunger 6i) for any reason, the latter is sufriciently weakened by annular undercut '70 thereon to snap before latches 44 are stressed to the point of breaking under the forces imparted thereto by the recoil travel of bolt 12 upon the initiation of automatic fire. As a result, charging handle 18 will remain in the inoperative position thereof and avoid the unsafe situation which otherwise would be created by the concurrent reciprocation thereof with bolt 12.

From time to time, conditions arise which prevent the complete return of bolt 12 to battery position during automatic tire. In such event, charging handle 18 may readily be unlatched and retracted in the usual manner. Since plunger 61) is resiliently mounted in actuator 40, the upturned rear end 58 of flexible tongue 54 will ride thereover until vertical hole 56 is aligned therewith. Plunger 6i) then snaps upwardly into hole 56 to serve as the means for providing engagement between charging handle 18 and bolt 12. Charging handle 18 may then be further retracted or pushed forwardly by means of tab 50 to overcome the obstruction to the travel of bolt 12 and permit the normal return thereof to battery position. Charging handle 18 will, of course, return to its inoperative position and be latched therein in the manner previously described.

Thus, there is here provided a simple and rugged charging handle which can be positively latched in an inoperative position while the firearm is being operated in automatic fire and yet can be readily retracted to provide manual reciprocation of the bolt whenever required. Such handle is specifically designed to automatically engage the bolt during the retraction thereof and similarly disengage therefrom upon movement into battery position. In addition, the present invention incorporates a special safety feature which is automatically triggered in the event the charging handle accidentally fails to disengage from the bolt upon movement of the latter into battery position.

The present invention has been described in detail above for the purpose of iliustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

1. In a rearrn having a receiver, a bolt slidably disposed in the receiver for longitudinal reciprocation into and out of battery position, and a charging handle slidably mounted in the receiver in abutment with the forward end of the bolt for transferring the manual retraction of the charging handle thereto, the improvement of, releasable interlocking means on the charging handle and on the bolt for providing a positive connection therebetween during the return of the charging handle to battery position, a cam surface in the receiver operative on said charging handle at the beginning of the retracting movement thereof to initiate said positive connection with the bolt, and means for automatically disconnecting said charging handle from the bolt during movement of the latter into battery position whereby said charging handle is inoperative during subsequent reciprocation of the bolt.

2. The combination dened in claim 1 including means for releasably locking said charging handle to the receiver in the inoperative position thereof.

3. In a firearm having a receiver and a bolt slidably disposed in the receiver for longitudinal reciprocation into and out of battery position, a charging handle slidably mounted in the receiver and having a depending portion at the forward end thereof for abutment with the forward end of the bolt whereby manual retraction of said handle is correspondingly imparted to the bolt, a iiexible tongue on said charging handle engageable with the bolt to provide a positive connection therebetween which can be utilized to ensure the return of the latter to battery position, a cam surface in the receiver operative during the beginning of the retracting movement of said charging handle for depressing said flexible tongue into positive connection with the bolt, means for automatically disconnecting said flexible tongue from the bolt during movement of the latter into battery position whereby said charging handle is inoperative during subsequent reciprocation of the bolt, and latch means at the rear end of said charging handle releasably engageable with the receiver to lock said handle thereto in the inoperative position thereof.

4. In a firearm having a receiver and a bolt slidably disposed in the receiver for longitudinal reciprocation into and out of battery position, a charging handle slidably mounted in the receiver and having an elongated body terminating in a depending portion at the forward end thereof for abutment with the forward end of the bolt whereby manual retraction of said charging handle is correspondingly imparted to the bolt, a vertical plunger mounted in the top of the bolt to project upwardly therefrom, a flexible tongue extending upwardly from the top of said charging handle, said tongue having a hole therethrough disposed in Vertical alignment with said plunger, a cam surface in the receiver disposed in the rearward path of said flexible tongue for depressing the latter into engagement with said plunger to provide a positive connection with the bolt for overcoming any stoppage during the return thereof to battery position, and means for continuing the engagement between said exible tongue and said plunger in the bolt until the rear end of said exible tongue reaches said cam surface during the return of the bolt to battery position to disengage from said plunger whereupon said charging handle is free to remain in the inoperative position thereof during subsequent reciprocation of the bolt.

5. The combination dened in claim 4 wherein said plunger is resiliently mounted in the bolt to permit said flexible tongue to ride thereover and align said hole for engagement therewith when said charging handle is retracted to reach the bolt in the event of any stoppage thereof out of battery position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,071,020 2/1937 BOUSSel 89-1 2,322,780 6/1943 Gorton 42-16 2,384,725 9/ 1945 Chapman 89-1 2,717,532 9/1955 Ramseyer 89--1 2,845,001 7/ 1958 Hillberg 89-1 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Examiner. 

1. IN A FIREARM HAVING A RECEIVER, A BOLT SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN THE RECEIVER FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCATION INTO AND OUT OF BATTERY POSITION, AND C HARGING HANDLE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE RECEIVER IN ABUTMENT WITH THE FORWARD END OF THE BOLT FOR TRANSFERRING THE MANUAL RETRACTION OF THE CHARGING HANDLE THERETO, THE IMPROVEMENT OF, RELEASABLE INTERLOCKING MEANS ON THE CHARGING HANDLE AND ON THE BOLT FOR PROVIDING A POSITIVE CONNECTION THEREBETWEEN DURING THE RETURN OF THE CHARGING HANDLE TO BATTERY POSITION, A CAM SURFACE IN THE RECEIVER OPERATIVE ON SAID CHARGING HANDLE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RETRACTING MOVEMENT THEREOF TO INITIATE SAID POSITIVE CONNECTION WITH THE BOLT, AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISCONNECTING SAID CHARGING HANDLE FROM THE BOLT DURING MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER INTO BATTERY POSITION WHEREBY SAID CHARGING HANDLE IS INOPERATIVE DURING SUBSEQUENT RECIPROCATION OF THE BOLT. 